Nordenberg, Derricotte Help to Dedicate “City of Asylum” Sanctuary for a Writer

Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg served as honorary chair of a Sept. 9 concert of poetry and jazz dedicating a North Side house as a future sanctuary for an exiled writer. Toi Derricotte, a Pitt professor of English and a leading African American poet, was among the participating artists. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka of Nigeria gave his blessing to the house, located at 404 Sampsonia Way; it is the city’s second dwelling to be dedicated by the Pittsburgh chapter of North America Cities of Asylum as a shelter for an exiled international writer. Clockwise from above: audience members; the Sampsonia Way house (dedicated in 2004) of exiled Chinese artist Huang Xiang, which he decorated with his verse; Soyinka and Nordenberg; and Derricotte (in circle inset).